Delft, South Holland, Netherlands

Gasthuislaan Canal, Delft

One of the biggest advantages of living in such a small country is that travelling around is pretty easy and with the well-connected motorways, it's fast and convenient. 

This afternoon, with parents-in-law in tow we ventured the mere 58kms down to Delft. 

Located north of Rotterdam and South of Den Haag in South Holland, Delft is synonymous with the Delft blue (Delfts blauw) pottery. Famous world-wide and made in the Netherlands since the 16th century. Home to several prominent golden-age painters (like Johannes Vermeer) the more than 750 year old city was named after the oldest canal, de Oude Delft which it was built alongside.

Old Delft Bridge

Off on our adventure through the Saturday market

Gemeelandhuis, Delft 

Autumn colours and Dutch houses

Originally founded in 1100 as a small medieval village, it was in 1246 that Delft received its city rights. Then it began to grow prosperous new neighbourhoods, attracting upper class citizens who grew rich from trading. In the 15th century a large canal, the Delftweg, was dug out down to the Maas river and a small port, the Delftshaven was built some 15 kilometres downstream, adding the flow of trade and commerce. Home to the Dutch East India trading company, the port flourished with Dutch adventurers setting sail for new lands. 

Autumn colours

Views down the canal

However, the port was eventually absorbed by the growing city of Rotterdam and is now considered a suburb of Rotterdam rather than part of Delft. Check out our Rotterdam blog here for more information on Delftshaven.

Mmmmm,,,, fresh beer

After we found somewhere to park the car we began our exploring. We walked up a narrow tree-lined canal with the blackened steeple of the towering new church as our aim point. 

One side of the brick cobbled lane was blanketed in shadow the other side bright with the autumn sun, the trees already beginning to shake off their leaves. First we waddled slowly through the small old town where a Saturday market was in full swing. 

There were fruits and vegetables and flowers galore! Fish trucks, chicken trucks and so much cheese! We took a sample of some stroopwafels and just eyed up the crispy deep fried potato fries. 

Our first stop was at the Maria van Jessekerk, a large church built in the period 1875-1882 but the local brewery across the lane caught our eye. It was a warm afternoon, after all! 

So we whipped around the church interior pretty quickly and were quickly back out into the sunlight to find ourselves an outdoor posse. 

Tower of the New Church

Locals walking toward the Town Hall

The beer was good. Yeasty smells escaped the door and taking a moment to just absorb our surrounds was lovely. Next up we walked towards the main city square, the markt. Surrounded by historic town houses and impressive chinaware shops the markt is beautiful. Towering along one edge of the old square is the new church, formally the church of St. Ursula and opposite it the Delft town hall (built 1621 and 1618 respectively - the first town hall was built in 1300 but burnt down).

Delft Town Hall

Closer inspection of the windows

Back view of Maria van Jessekerk (from the Markt) 

What's interesting about the new church is its history with the Dutch royal family, being the burial place of the princes of Orange. The town's association with the house of Orange started when William of Orange took up residence in 1572. 

At the time he was the leader of the growing national Dutch resistance against Spanish occupation of the country, which is known as the Eighty years war. By then Delft was one of the leading cities of Holland and it was equipped with the necessary city walls to serve as a headquarters.

Towards the new church

An adorable antique shop

In 1581 Delft became the de facto capital of the newly independent Netherlands as the seat of the prince of Orange. When William was shot dead in 1584, the family's traditional burial place in Breda was still in the hands of the Spanish. Therefore, he was buried in the Delft New Church, starting a tradition for the House of Orange that has continued to the present day.

Original hand made and hand painted delftware 

Delft blue china

All the bits and bobs

Bringing home the chese

Tourist souvenirs 

We decided that rather than exploring the tombs we would walk on to the old church (stopping of course at a few cheese shops and a quick peek into several of the china shops). The old church (the names are not very original -are they!) was founded in 1246 on the site of a previous church dating back a further two centuries and, well, the first thing we noticed is that its church bell tower has quite a lean (2meters in fact). Of course this old building has had its fair share of disasters- fires, reconstruction, crazy weather etc. but still stands pretty (apart from that lean) to this day.

John and Ritha outside the old church

A view towards the Maria van Jessekerk

Check this Autumn view

Kara by an old canal house

After a short look around the area peering into the courtyards and over the fences at the gorgeous mansions we slowly began to make our way back to the car. We thoroughly enjoyed our small adventure and felt like we had stepped back into a different era, yet fully aware there were still many treasures waiting to be found.

West view of the Oostport

From the old town side, Oostport

Before we left we took one last stop at the East gate (the Oostport) and the last remaining area of the ancient Delft city walls. 

Built aaaaages ago- around 1400 it's now a private art gallery and it’s still very impressive.

Tot siens,

John and Kara